If you’re hitting the great deals on Amazon this weekend, take advantage of the limited time cashback offered through Be Frugal.  This is the first time in a while that I’ve seen cashback for Amazon, so I’m excited about it!  If you haven’t signed up for a Be Frugal account yet, no worries. It’s free and quick to sign up, just click here to get started.  The site is very easy to navigate, too.  I find lots of great coupons for local deals (such as restaurants and shopping) on it as well.

Enjoy!

The link above is my affiliate link.

If you’re trying to jazz up some favorite recipes for the holidays, there’s no better way to add to the flavor by using some great spices.  Spices are also usually pretty affordable, so you can stretch your pennies this way, too.   I recently tried Spike seasonings and found several new flavors that my family loved!

I made chicken soup for my kids which is a favorite meal.  They were eating supper when I opened my Spike seasonings box.  My daughter asked if she could try one of them.  She selected the Original seasoning.

She told me that it made the soup taste fantastic!!  Remember that this is a recipe that I’ve made before and she already loved it.  She asked if she could put Spike in it every time.  Afterwards, she drew this little sign for me.  I thought it was super cute.

We’ll definitely use our Spike seasoning this fall when making our holiday meals.  It is an easy way to add great flavor without having to purchase extra ingredients. Spike Seasoning Magic! was aslo recommended by Dr. Oz to help fight bloat and lower sodium.  Win, win, to me!

You can win a 4-pack of Spike seasoning — just enter the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win.  Giveaway is open to US readers ages 18+ and ends 12/8.  Good luck!

Like Spike on Facebook and follow on Twitter to keep up with the new flavors and offers.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I was already planning to get this Imaginext Pirate Ship for my son and thanks to Hip2Save was able to grab it for under $17 from Kohl’s.  Use code BLACKFRI to save an additional 15%.

I did a little shopping while I was there and found this laser tag set for $19.99 (retails $39.99).  It looks like fun and will be the perfect gift for my friend’s sons!  I got a set for my kids too.  We always need outdoor toys.

These three items bumped me up to $50.97, so I earned free shipping, but I also wanted to grab this card game for $4.99.   It sounds like the perfect stocking stuffer for my math-loving daughter.

My total came to around $63 after tax, with free shipping, plus I got $15 in Kohl’s Cash!  Also, I earned some cashback through Shop-At-Home.   Nice to have a Black Friday deal before Thanksgiving!

This link contains my SAH affiliate link. The opinions stated are 100% mine.

This is a sponsored post from Audition Coach.

I’ll admit it.  My husband and I are completely obsessed with watching shows like The Voice.  We love listening to the musical talent and critiquing the artistry of each singer.  It amazes me that people have the guts to get up in front of a huge audience and on national TV with the hope of winning the competition.  I just don’t have the cahoneys to do it.   If I had the musical talent, or proper coaching, I might be willing to try it.  Preparation and training are extremely important in those situations and with the right coach, anything is possible.

Are you dreaming of that moment for yourself? Here’s a chance for you to make that move.  Audition Coach with Toronto singing auditions can help get one set up with the right people, the right resources, and the right timing.   Audition Coach can help with these things in person, or they can work with you via Skype.  I love that there’s flexibility in the program.  Rubbing noses with the best in the business is key in showbiz.  Working with (or in front of) successful talent coaches gives aspiring stars the opportunity to improve.  Also, it gives artists the stage practice necessary to become confident and familiar with performing.   Having this opportunity could be the chance of a lifetime.

If you’ve got a Walking Dead fan to buy for this Christmas, how about getting Seasons 1 and 2 for around $30 shipped?  The  Blu-ray edition of Season 1 is only $11.99 right now, down from $49.99.   You can get the regular DVD version for $14.49.

Then, for Season 2, purchase the DVD edition for $18.99. This is down from the suggested retail of $59.99! You can get it on Blu-Ray for $24.99, 68% off of the $69.99 list price.

If you’re purchasing for yourself, consider watching the movies then exchanging them at a used bookstore or similar place.  Recently I purchased and watched Downton Abbey Season 2
(we just couldn’t wait to get the discs from Netflix!) and after watching it I traded it in at Mr. K’s.  I paid $19.99 for the DVDs on Amazon and got $10 in video credit at Mr. K’s.  It was a great way to make the money stretch a little bit more! And the second season is now just $15.99 on Amazon.

These links are my affiliate links. They don’t cost you a penny to use them. Thanks!

5 Helpful Tips When Buying Roses

If you have never purchased roses before and you are getting ready to do so for the first time, then prepare to become overwhelmed with the many different types and colors that you will have to choose from. You might have the unrealistic notion that flowers are easy to choose, but unless you know what you are looking for you might end up purchasing the wrong type of blooms for the occasion, or accidentally purchasing roses that are already on their last leg and will begin wilting as soon as you bring them home. Purchasing roses for a loved one can be the ideal way to show them that you care but you should follow these five helpful tips if you want your roses to last.

1)       Don’t Procrastinate

If you are buying roses for a popular event such as Valentine’s Day, then you’d better make sure that you don’t procrastinate or you will end up with the leftover roses that no one else wanted. It is wise to purchase roses early if you are buying for a big holiday. You should plan on purchasing them a week before the holiday. Making your flower purchase online is a very easy way to place your early order of roses. In addition to making sure that you get first dibs on beautiful roses, purchasing early can also help you save money. Some businesses increase the cost of their roses during the week of a holiday, so if you purchase early you could save some cash as well.

2)      Open Petals Or Closed Petals?

Before purchasing roses for your loved one, you should decide if you want the roses you purchase to open up into full blooms, or if you prefer that they stay closed. Both varieties are very pretty, but if you are expecting your roses to open up into gorgeous blooms you will likely be disappointed if you choose a non-opening variety. Just decide which variety you prefer, and then make sure that you purchase that particular variety.

3)      Check Your Roses For Freshness

If you are buying your roses in person, you can easily check certain areas for freshness. This will help ensure that you don’t purchase roses that are already starting to die off. If a rose is still healthy and vibrant, then the stem at the base of its head should still be stiff and strong. If it feels soft and unstable then you shouldn’t buy that particular rose. Also, if the rose petals are starting to curl under too much and aren’t holding their shape well, then the rose is already starting to wilt. You should also check out the bottom of the rose stems to see if they are brown or dried out at the bottom, and if they are you should move on to a more healthy bouquet.

4)      Cut The Stems

Once you purchase the ideal bouquet of roses, make sure that you cut about ½ inch off the bottom of the stem at a 45-degree angle. This will help remove bacteria from the bottom of the stem and will also help the rose to suck up more water so that it will live longer in a vase.

5)      Feed Your Roses

Many people think that they don’t need to add that little packet of preservative to vase water, but doing so can help to significantly prolong the life of your roses. To ensure that your roses bloom as long as possible for your loved one, be sure to add the preservative to the water.

I hope these tips are helpful to you as you purchase your beautiful bouquet!  Remember, anytime you invest money in something, take a few seconds to make your money last a little longer.

This is a sponsored post.  The opinions stated are 100% mine.

This year it’s been hard for me to get into the holiday season.  Work has been busy, my kids are wild, and my husband has been out of town a lot.  We are doing well just to keep our heads above water.  Gearing up for the holidays just isn’t a priority for me at this point and I feel a bit like Scrooge, Bah Humbug!   I needed a good Christmas story to get me into the holly and jolly.  If you’re ready to get into the Christmas spirit, don’t miss the premiere of the new movie Christmas Angel, showing November 24 and 25 on GMC TV.  I had the opportunity to watch the movie on a screening DVD and it was just precious.  I love movies that the whole family can enjoy together.  We didn’t have to worry about seeing inappropriate scenes or foul language.  My daughter liked it that one of the main characters, Olivia, was close to her age and I think she found a very positive message by watching the movie.   The music in this movie was just outstanding; I’d love to have a soundtrack to listen to all Christmas long.  Definitely try to catch this one on your TV this weekend!

What holiday movies are you planning to watch this season?

Today’s Gold Box deal is a huge sale on Melissa & Doug toys.  This is a great time to do your Christmas shopping. 

This is my affiliate link. It doesn’t cost you a penny to use it. Thanks!

We are a family of readers.  I’ve been known to read the car manual when there was nothing else to read in the car, and my daughter is the same way.  My husband is a bookworm, given the right book, and my son is already well on his way to having an overstuffed bookshelf.   My kids usually get anywhere from 20-30 new books during Christmas and/or birthdays.  We share the wealth with family and friends, but sometimes we just want to unload all at once.  The best place to do this is at Mr. K’s Used Bookstore in Johnson City, TN.   We take a bag over and let the good people at Mr. K’s determine the trade-in value while we browse.  By the time we’ve chosen several new-to-us books, we head back downstairs and usually can get our entire purchase at no cost by exchanging them with our old books.  We also like to trade in and/or pick up previously owned DVD’s and CD’s while we’re there.  It’s a great way to stretch the money you’ve already spent, and it’s also a way to pick up new items for much lower prices.   I love teaching my kids to watch their pennies by buying used.

Mr. K’s has several locations around the Tricities area.  Remember that Mr. K’s sells new items too, so as you’re checking off your shopping list definitely consider heading over there.

Do you like to visit used bookstores?   Tell me about your experiences!

I received no compensation for this post.